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No prosecution over 'forged' Sinn Féin election signatures

Brendan Hughes
BBC News NI political reporter
Liam McBurney/PA A sign which reads 'polling station' with an arrow pointing left at a polling station in south Belfast.Liam McBurney/PA
The allegations were mentioned in parliament by DUP MP Jim Shannon

There will be no prosecutions after "forged signatures" were allegedly used on nomination papers for a Sinn Féin election candidate.

The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has decided not to prosecute after a police investigation into fraud allegations.

It was alleged that fake signatures were used on nomination papers for Gerard Magee, who stood for Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council in elections in 2023.

But the PPS said the "available evidence was insufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction".

Facebook Sinn Féin candidate Gerard Magee wearing a dark suit, white shirt and blue and white striped tie, smiling along with deputy leader Michelle O'Neill wearing a pink top and dark jacket, and party leader Mary Lou McDonald, who is wearing a cream coloured jacket and top.Facebook
Sinn Féin candidate Gerard Magee with deputy leader Michelle O'Neill and leader Mary Lou McDonald

A file reporting three people - none of whom were Mr Magee - was sent to the PPS by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in April last year.

Mr Magee was an unsuccessful candidate for the party in the Ballyclare area during local government elections in 2023.

During the campaign, it emerged the council had received complaints alleging "fraudulent subscription" in relation to his nomination papers.

The allegations were mentioned in parliament by Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Jim Shannon.

He told MPs that a man listed as one of the proposers of Mr Magee "was the victim of identity fraud".

"For clarity, the victim does not know Gerard Magee and did not sign his nomination papers," the Strangford MP said in the Commons.

The council sought advice from the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland and the PSNI launched an investigation.

Police submitted a file to the PPS relating to three people in April 2024. Mr Magee was not one of the people reported on the file.

In a statement, the PPS said the file reported one person "in relation to allegations that forged signatures were used on a nomination paper".

The file also reported two others "in relation to allegations that they had falsely made a report to police in connection with the matter".

A PPS spokeswoman said, in relation to all three, "it was determined that the available evidence was insufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction".

"All decision-making on this file was undertaken independently, impartially and in line with the Code for Prosecutors," she added.

"All parties have been informed of the outcome of the consideration."

Sinn Féin and Mr Magee were approached for comment.

In a previous statement when the police investigation began, Sinn Féin said its nominations for the Ballyclare area "were submitted in full compliance with the Electoral Office rules".